COVID-19 Enforcement: A Guide for EHS Professionals
Will workplace safety and health inspectors show up at your facility if workers contract coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and one of them files a complaint? Yes; in fact, it’s already happened.
Tag: OSHA enforcement
A Roundup of Recent OSHA Enforcement Actions
In the third quarter (Q3), OSHA issued citations to companies across the United States for violations of trenching standards, confined spaces, fall protection, and more.
N95 Respirators: Amid COVID-19 Shortages, OSHA Enforcement Goes On
Why are there still shortages of N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs)? Basically, when the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was declared in March, a spike in demand for N95 respirators met a “just-in-time” supply chain. Both industry and government have moved to address shortages. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by an infection of the […]
Meatpacking Plant Cited by OSHA for COVID-19 Violations
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp. in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for failing to protect employees from exposure to the coronavirus (COVID-19). The agency proposed a penalty of $13,494 for a single violation, which is the maximum allowed by law.
OSHA Citations for Falsifying Abatement Claims Upheld By ALJ
An Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) administrative law judge (ALJ) upheld citations of a hardwood-flooring manufacturer for falsely claiming to have corrected previously cited workplace safety and health hazards. In July 2018, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Timberline Hardwood Floors LLC with willful violations for uncorrected hazards.
Employer Cited by OSHA for COVID-19 Respirator Violations
On July 21, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that it had cited an employer for violations of the respiratory protection standard after the company reported the coronavirus-related hospitalization of seven employees. The agency proposed penalties totaling $40,482 in its citation of Ohio-based healthcare company OHNH EMP LLC.
How to Survive an OSHA Inspection (Including Those Triggered by COVID-19)
The SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has brought uncertainty and a new laser-focus on safety to your workplace. OSHA has tried to help by issuing new guidance about increased inspections and recordkeeping requirements, but the list of issues that keep you up at night has likely grown. Being prepared ahead of time may help you survive […]
OSHA Enforcement Roundup Shows Citations, Fines Continue During Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the nature of work in many industries and brought renewed attention to the importance of workplace safety, but OSHA continues to carry out inspections and issue citations to employers that expose workers to hazardous conditions. We’ve summarized some of the key enforcement cases from the past few months for a […]
OSHA’s New Enforcement Policies Include How to Record COVID-19 Cases
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has adopted revised policies for enforcing workplace safety and health requirements as states throughout the country begin lifting stay-at-home restrictions and workplaces reopen. The changes include updated requirements for recording cases of COVID-19.
An In-Depth Look at Hazard Communication Enforcement
The hazard communication standard (HCS) is the second most frequently cited federal workplace safety and health standard, surpassed only by the construction industry’s fall protection standard. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited the HCS 4,102 times between October 2018 and September 2019 during 2,276 inspections for fines totaling $5,105,026.